Thread cutter and clamp mechanism for looms



Dec. 3, 1963 v. R. BOSTIC ,1 ,77

THREAD CUTTER AND CLAMP MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1.

30 J INVENTOR K/ 58 VIRGlLRBOSTIC Dec. 3, 1963 v. R. BOSTIC ,7

THREAD CUTTER AND CLAMP MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-1.4:.

ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1963 v. R. BOSTIC THREAD CUTTER AND CLAMP MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 15, 1961 PIC-1.13.

INVENTOR. VIRGIL R.BOST1C.

@.MW.L.

Dec. 3, 1963 v. R. BOSTIC 3,112,774

THREAD CUTTER AND CLAMP MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. VIRGIL R.BOSTLC ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,112,774 Patented Dec. 3, 1963 3,112,774 THREAD CUTTER AND CLAMP MECHANItsM FOR LGUMS Virgil R. Eostic, R0. Box 752, Gaffney, S.C. Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,535 6 Claims. (Cl. 139263) The present invention relates to loom thread cutters, and more particularly to an improved cam actuated filling thread clamp and cutter mechanism which is readily adaptable for use with existing looms.

More specifically, my invention is directed to filling-replenishing, fly shuttle type looms wherein the filling is replenished periodically during operation thereof. When such filling replenishment is effected, there is a spent filling or thread end which extends from the selvage of the cloth being woven to the shuttle eye, then into the shuttle and on to the bobbin which is to be ejected, it being important that said filling end be held out of the way and removed to preclude formation of imperfect cloth.

Accordingly, a loom thread cutter must effectively and efliciently perform two important functions, the first of which is to cut the filling at the time of bobbin transfer so that the thread of the ejected bobbin may be drawn out of the eye of the shuttle as the bobbin is dropped into a reclaiming can. If this discarded filling is cut but not drawn out of the shuttle eye, it may be inadvertently carried into the open shed to make a broken pick alongside the complete pick from the new bobbin being replenished, thus causing a very noticeable defect in the cloth. Secondly, the cutter apparatus should include means for clamping and holding this trailing end of the discarded filling out of the way of the moving shuttle, said severed end being still attached to the selvage until it is subsequently cut by a conventional or so-called temple thread cutter several picks after the bobbin change.

There have been various mechanisms evolved to accomplish this and there are various generally acceptable loom cutters available in the industry, including one wellknown cam actuated Stafford thread cutter as often used in conjunction with looms as manufactured by the Draper Corporation. However, heretofore in the prior art clamp and cutter mechanisms whose blade components are actuated by contact of certain follower means provided on one of the blades or on the carrier slide therefor, with a pivoted resiliently biased cam means which is usually inclined to the path of movement of said follower means, said camming means have been usually openly mounted upon and externally of the usual filling cutter slide or carrier mechanism. Thus this camming mechanism is openly exposed in and among the other loom operating drive and weaving mechanisms and is very susceptible to having loose filling become wrapped or entangled in said mechanism which frequently causes clogging and generally hindering of the camming and other operations. Furthermore, great care and time must be exercised in order to periodically lubricate this exposed cam mechanism without damaging the filling yarns.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved cam actuated thread clamp and cutter mechanism which effectively and efficiently overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art, wherein improved fully concealed camming means is built within and between the usual cutter slide guide or track member and the complementally sliding cutter and clamp carrier member.

Another principal object of this invention is to provide improved cam actuated cutter and clamp means of the aforementioned type which is extremely compact and concealed during operation, but which is readily accessible to frequent lubrication without doing damage to the yarns,

thus contributing to a more efficient and longer useful operating life thereof.

Still another object is to provide an improved and adjustable camming means of the foregoing type wherein adjustable tensioning means is provided for the cam components whereby they may be readily adjusted to compensate for wear thereon or on the cam follower, to assure for a correct opening and closing of the cutter and clamp components of said cutter mechanism during operation thereof.

Yet another important objective of this invention is to provide an improved cutting and clamping blade assembly in combination with suitable camming means Wherein the filling or thread is clamped and firmly held in two places between blade components prior to the cutting or parting of the filling.

Still a further object is to provide an improved clamp and cutter mechanism according to the next preceding objective, which further embodies means for establishing slack in the filling before it is cut, thus helping to more positively prevent the cut thread from pulling out of the clamping means.

These and other objects, which include the provision of an improved clamp and cutter mechanism of the foregoing type which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and readily adaptable to certain existing as well as to new looms, will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the several figures of the illustrative drawings, and the novel features thereof will be defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my improved cam operated filling theread clamp and cutter assembly shown in an extended and open position, and illustrated in con junction with a modified Stafford-type of knife carrier and slide, adjustable slide carrier bracket, slide lever and latch depressor means operatively connected with a conventional shuttle feeler.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of my improved cam operated clamp and cutter shown in the left-hand portion of FIGURE 1, with the filling slide lever and adjustable filling knife carrier bracket cut away to better see the cutter assembly in a retracted and closed position, wherein the filling has been cut and is firmly clamped thereby,

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus of FIG- URE 2,

FIGURES 4-7 inclusive are sequence views showing the operation of my improved clamp and cutter mechanism in which FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view showing said mechanism in a fully retracted inactive position in solid lines, while showing in dotted outline the cutter knives and clamp as they commence to open responsive to the filling cutter knife follower pin carried thereby commencing to ride up the upper side of the cam on its Way to the contact point with the loom lay,

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view shown my clamp and cutter assembly as it would be in contact with the loom lay and in its fully extended and open position just prior to commencement of the return stroke of the sequence,

FIGURE 6 is another sequential side elevational view illustrating the initial clamping action on the filling or thread as the clamp and cutter mechanism retracts further in the sequence, responsive to the filling knife follower pin engaging the underside of the cam,

FIGURE 7 is a View similar to FIGURE 6 showing still a further sequential clamping action in solid lines as slack L2 is developed in the filling, while illustrating in dotted outline the clamp and cutter substantially in its fully clamping and cutting position as it continues toward its fully retracted position,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective exploded view more clearly showing the details of my improved clamping and cutter blade components,

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of FIGURE 2 and showing the filling as firmly clamped subsequent to it having been cut,

FIGURES -13 inclusive are side elevati nal sequence views of my improved clamp and cutter mechanism similar to FIGURES 4-7, but showing a modified and split form of camming means for effecting operation thereof,

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view similar to the lefthand portion of FIGURE 1, but showing a modified cam housing and modified adjustable slide carrier bracket in conjunction with the other related components,

FIGURE is a fragmentary exploded perspective view more clearly showing the relationship and structural details of the modified split cam means,

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the split cam elements and tensioning means therefor,

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the split cam means as mounted within the channeled carrier slide or track upon which the filling knife carrier reciprocably rides,

FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE 17 but showing the split cam means in an adjusted position.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the illustrative drawings, wherein 1 generally designates my improved clamp and cutter mechanism which comprises a slidable filling knife carrier 2 within which is formed a generally channelshaped guideway 3 providing a sliding fit thereof upon a relatively fixed, complementally shaped carrier slide or track 4. The carrier 2 is provided with a laterally extended supporting lug or flange 5 upon which the clamp and cutter instruments, which will be described in detail hereinafter, are yielda-bly mounted. The carrier 2 is further provided at its forward portion with a stud and lock nut assembly 6 to control the depth to which the blades of the mechanism 1 may be moved within the shuttle of the loom, not shown. Additionally, the cutter knife carrier 2 and slide or track 4 are provided with a cooperative limit pin 7 and stop or abutment 8, respectively, to limit the forward travel of the carrier 2 upon the track member 4, better seen in FIGURES 2 and 4-7.

A stationary or dead shaft -9 supports a depending twopart adjustable knife carrier bracket Ill, II, which affords a forward and rearward adjustment of the carrier slide or track 4 by means of slots 12 and bolt and nut assemblies 13; while vertical adjustment thereof is provided for by means of a pair of slotted depending legs 14 and 15 on the bracket piece 11, and a pair of mounting screws 16 and 17 which extend through the slots 18 and 1?, respectively, and are re-movably secured in the main body portion of the carrier 2.

Reciprocation of the cutter knife carrier 2 upon the carrier slide or track 4 is conventionally effected by wellknown means which include a transfer arm Zll, FIGURE 2, which engages in the slotted arm 21 of a two-part adjustable slide lever 22, 23, FIGURE 1, which also is pivotally supported upon shaft 9; and which, in turn, is further operatively joined in a conventional manner to a latch stud 24, a latch stud depressor 25, a shuttle feeler 26 and to the shuttle feeler tip 27, FIGURE 1, as usually provided on one commercially kn wn loom named the Draper loom. These foregoing parts and their operation within the overall loom operation are well understood by those skilled in the loom art and need not be further described in detail herein.

The clamp and cutter assembly I, IGURES 1, 2, 3 and 8, inclu es a relatively fixed thread or filling stop law blade 20 which is preferably formed of a spring steel and slightly angled as at 29 to serve a dual purpose of functioning also as a leaf spring for one side of the cutter assembly, as will become more apparent as the description hereof continues. Next, a relatively fixed upper knife blade Ell, best seen in FIGURE 8, is mounted adjacent to the blade 28. Adjacent to this blade 39 there is provided a pivotally mounted lower cutter blade 31, and a further correspondingly shaped filling holder blade 32 which is disposed in spaced apart parallel relation to the blade 31, but which is suitably joined as at 33 at its rearward portion to the respective rearward portion of said lower cutter blade SI. Both blades 31 and 32, therefore, are adapted to be moved substantially in parallel and simultaneously as by means of a laterally projecting filling knife follower pin 34 afiixed to said rearward commonly joined area 33, responsive to forward movement of the cutter assembly. In so moving, the pin 34 engages first along the upper surface and then, during the return stroke of the cutter assembly, along the under surface of a resiliently mounted inclined cam 35 which is pivotally mounted on a cam shaft 36 within the channeled guideway or track 4 and bears against the spaced upper and lower surfaces 4a and 4b. Continuing with the description of the clamp and cutter components, a relatively fixed keeper blade 37 is disposed intermediate blades 31 and 32, and is provided on its forward portion with a slightly pivotal composite trough-shaped filling guide and holder 38. Said holder 38 includes a retainer trough 39 which preferably is formed of a very thin spring steel or brass or other suitable material which will impart outward lateral resiliency to the side walls of said trough 39. A suitable fiber of plastic trough cushion 4-3 overlays the outer surface of trough 39 and is attached to the trough 39 and to the blade 37 by the pivotal means 41. The fiber cushion it) serves to establish a greater frictional gripping of the filling or thread as it becomes clamped between the sides of the trough 39 and the respective adjacent inside faces of the lower cutter knife blade 31 and the holder blade 32. A small boss or detent 42, FIGURE 8, is provided on each outer side of the retainer trough member 39 closely behind the pivot 41. Each detent 42 is adapted to progressively engage and seat within a plurality of preferably three pairs of complementally dimpled recesses 43, 44 and 45 formed on the adjacent respective inside faces of blades 31 and 32, as best seen in FIGURE 8, during the clamping and cutting operation, more clearly shown in the sequence views of FIGURES 5, 6 and the dotted line position of FIGURE 7. During the return stroke of the carrier 2, the detents 42 progressively cooperate with recesses 43, 44 and 45 in a manner as to slightly pivot the composite thread guide and holder 38 about pivot 41, FIG- URE 6, so as to form some slack in the filling or thread before it is cut so that a better holding action on the filling is obtained. While the foregoing slack forming operation is preferable, it is to be understood that if the composite holder 38 was attached to blade 37 in a non-pivotal manner, my improved clamp and cutter mechanism will still operate to provide satisfactory results. Furthermore, the holder 33 conceivably could be made of a one-piece trough member having friction inducing qualities as well as a predetermined resiliency characteristic to provide outward clamping pressure by said holder against the sides of blades 31 and 32. The forward portions of blades 31 and 32 are slightly and oppositely recessed as shown better in FIGURE 8 at 46 and 47 to provide seats to yieldingly receive the sides of the trough 39 and the cushion 4%) as the lower cutter blade 31 and holder blade 32 move from open to closed position during the clamping and cutting operation. All of the foregoing blades, together with a preferably combined leaf spring retainer and Bclvillc-type washer 48, are coaxially mounted upon the shank of a clamping screw 49 and secured to the mounting flange of the carrier 2, as by means of a nut 50. The combined action of the slightly angled filling stop blade 28 and the spring washer 48 provides for an adjustable resilient axial mounting of the blade elements to assure the correct amount of tension to hold the filling. Each of the blades 28, 30 and 37 have notched rear portions 28a, 30a and 37a respectively for engagement with an anchor pin 51 which also projects laterally from flange 5, thus precluding any pivotal movement of these relatively fixed blades, whereas the joined-together lower cutter blade 31 and holder blade 32 are provided with arcuate slots 31a and 32a, in lieu of the notches provided in the other blades, thus permitting these blades to move from open to closed position on the pivotal mounting screw 49, responsive to the follower pin $4 riding over and under cam 35 as previously described.

The automatic action of the carrier and cam will not open or close the blades until the carrier has traveled the full length of its stroke and is forced back by the lay of the loom, not shown, to a distance of 1% inches. Even then, after reaching this point, it will not open because it follows the lay member back after a'transfer; and the cutter will open only after it returns to its resting polnt and is reactivated by the filling motion again.

While the foregoing detailed description makes th operation rather apparent, a summary of the operation s as follows. With the loom in operation, the carrier 2 1s horizontally reciprocated, as by the apparatus described in the second paragraph of the foregoing detailed description, in timed relationship to the lay, not shown, and motion of other parts at the usual transfer cycle. As better seen in the sequence views of FIGURES 4-7, the clamping and cutter assembly 1 is carried forward by the carrier 2 whereupon the follower pin 34 rides over the upper surface of the pivotally mounted cam 35 to effect full opening of the cutter and clamping blades of assembly 1, said cam 35 being spring-loaded by a coil spring 54 anchored at one end to the end 55 of the pivotal cam shaft 36 and at the other end to a collar 56, which also serves as a bearing for cam shaft 36. Upon the follower pin 34 passing over the cam, which becomes partially depressed to permit follower pin 34 to pass thereover,- the spring 54 returns the cam 35 to its initial inclined position as shown in FIGURE 5. FIGURE 5 further shows the carrier 2 at its forwardmost position, as it would be when in contact with the lay of the loom, being limited by the stop 6, and with the filling thread 57 being framed between the upper and lower cutter blades and the holding blades, and against the stop blade 28. FIG- URES 6 and 7, as clearly described in the figure description at the beginning of the specification, show further sequential steps in full and dotted outline showing the return combined clamping and cutting action of the assembly 1 as the carrier 2 is retracted back to its initial inactive position, whereupon the parted or cut filling 57 is firmly clamped and retained by the holder and keeper components 31, 32, 37 and 38, as more clearly shown in the cross sectional view of FIGURE 9, and held out of the way of the moving shuttle, not shown, until this end portion designated 58 which is attached to the selvage, is subsequently cut by the so-called temple thread cutter, not shown, several picks after the bobbin change has been completed. When finally cut at the selvage, this cut filling end falls away from all moving parts that might otherwise whip it back into the cloth. The other end designated 59 in FIGURE 9 is the cut end from the out going bobbin, not shown. This same cycle is repeated each time a bobbin is changed and, accordingly, it is apparent that the foregoing described embodiment fully achieves the objects and advantages set forth in the preamble of this specification.

Now coming to my modified embodiment as depicted in FIGURES -18 inclusive of the drawings, it is to be understood that only the camming means and slide or track carrier brackets have been modified, with the other components and their operation remaining substantially the same. Therefore, where the corresponding components have remained unchanged, no detailed description will be unduly repeated and primed reference numerals will be used to designate the same corresponding parts, while new reference numerals will be assigned to the modified components.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 10-13, the same general operational sequence of the clamp and cutter mechanism 1 is illustrated, as was previously disclosed and described with reference to FIGURES 4-7. It will be noted, however, that I have replaced the single elongated flat cam 35 of the first-described form with a split camming means 69, the details of which can be better seen in FIGURES 15-18. Camming means 60 includes a pair of flat generally rectangular shaped camming plates 61 and 62, each of which is provided with a unitary shaft 63 and 64, respectively, attached to and projecting laterally from a lateral edge thereof. The free ends of the shafts 63 and 64 are slotted at 65 and 66 respectively for a substantial distance and preferably enlarged at the base thereof to complementally receive the free inwardly disposed ends 67 and 68 of a pair of oppositely coiled spiral springs 69 and 7t) integrally joined at 71, FIGURE 16. The cams 61 and 62 are substantially aligned with each other as shown in the drawings, and disposed in an inclined manner with respect to the substantially horizontally spaced inner surfaces 4a and 4b of the carrier slide or track 4 and with respect to the substantially horizontal movement of the filling knife follower pin 34' passing therebetween. The opposite ends of the cams 61 and 62 designated 72 and 73 respectively, FIGURE 15, are beveled with respect to the body plane of each cam 61 and 62, so that they may lay substantially flat against said upper and lower surfaces 4a and 4b of the carrier 4. The cams 61 and 62 are supported by their respective shafts 63 and 64 within a generally cylindrical housing designated broadly at 74 and which is adjustably attached to the slide carrier or track 4'. The housing 74 includes a generally cylindrical shell or sleeve portion 75 attached to a base 76 having coplanar mounting flanges 77 and 78. Projecting from the base in a direction opposite from and as a continuation of the sleeve portion 75, there is preferably an integrally formed cylindrical bearing insert '79 which is adapted to rotatably seat within a complementally formed aperture or hearing seat 86 in the vertical wall 81 of the carrier 4. To permit said rotatable movement within seat. 86 the mounting flanges 77 and 78 of housing 74 are each provided with an enlarged or arcuate slot 82 and 33, through which attaching bolts 34 and 85 freely pass to threadly engage in aligned complementally tapped holes 86 and 87 in wall 81 as better seen in FIGURES 14 and 15.

To suitably accommodate the housing 74 in conjunction with an adjustable slide carrier bracket similar to part 11 shown in FIGURE 1, a similar bracket 88, FI URE 14, is utilized but is modified by the use of a parallel slotted leg 89, corresponding to leg 15 in FIGURE 1, being laterally offset from the plane of the other mounting leg 90. The amount of lateral offset preferably corresponds to the thickness of mounting flange 77 of housing 74. The mounting bolt 84 is therefore slightly longer than bolt 85 since bolt 84 passes through leg 89 and the flange 77, while bolt 85 passes only through flange 78. Both bolts are of predetermined lengths so that they preferably thread fully into the wall 76 of carrier 4' but do not project therebeyond, in order not to interfere with movements of the camming means.

More specifically, the shafts 63 and 64 of the cams 61 and 62 pass through and are supported in complemental bores 91 and 92, FIGURE 15, provided in the bearing insert 79. After assembling said shafts through the said bores, the unitary double tension springs 69 and 70 are respectively slipped over shafts 63 and 64 with the spring ends 6'7 and 63 being anchored or seated within the enlarged bases of slots 65 and so. It is apparent, therefore, that one coil spring counteracts the other to tension the cams 6i and 62 in their respective inclined positions, and to effect the return of the cams to their tensioned positions after being depressed by passage of the cam follower pin 34 during the reciprocable operation thereof, which is substantially the same as in the first-described form. A suitable removable or displaceable cover 93 is used to close the end of the housing 74 and thus preclude any foreign matter from becoming fouled within the springs 69 and 70 of the camming means 69.

Should the camming surfaces or cam shaft bores become unduly worn, rotational adjustment of the split cam means 60 may be readily eifected to compensate for this and to provide for the correct continual predeter mined opening and closing of the clamping and cutter blades, as shown in FIGURE 18 and as described in the following. It is only necessary to loosen the mounting bolts 34 and 85 enough to ermit the cam housing 74 tobe manually rotated within the bearing seat 34) and about bolts 84 and 85 as afforded by the slot 82 and 33 described herein above. To increase the tension on the illustrated oppositely wound coil springs 69 and 7G, rotation of the housing 74 and bearing insert '75 would be in the clockwise direction as shown by the arrow 94 in FIGURE 18, said FIGURE 18 also showing the cams as being adjusted to substantially their maximum extent. When the desired adjustment has been effected, it is only necessary to maintain the relative positions of the cam housing with respect to the slide carrier 4 while retightening the bolts 84 and 35.

Accordingly, it is apparent that my improved cam actuated clamp and cutter mechanisms as described in the foregoing, fully achieve the objects and advantages as set forth in the preamble of this specification.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A thread cutter and clamp mechanism for filling replenishing looms comprising in combination a knife carrier bracket which is relatively stationary and including a pair of spacedv depending legs, one of said legs being offset laterally in one direction from the other leg, a slide fixedly secured to one leg of said bracket and spaced from the offset leg thereof, a housing arranged adjacent one side of said slide and having a pair of flanges projecting from opposite sides thereof and engaging said slide, said fianges being slotted and one of said flanges disposed between said slide and offset bracket leg, a cylindrical projection on said housing, said slide having a side opening rotatably receiving said projection, said projection having spaced bores formed therethrough communicating with said housing, bolt means securing said housing flanges adjustably to said housing and extending through said slots, whereby said housing and project-ion may be rotated relative to said slide, a carrier having interlocking sliding engagement with said slide, a thread clamp and cutter mechanism secured to said carrier and having an actuating element projecting into said slide, a pair of inclined cam elements disposed within said slide and between the slide and carrier and being substantially enclosed, rock shafts carrying the cam elements and engaging rotatably within said bores of the projection and extending into said housing, said cam elements in the path of travel of said actuating element for operating the thread clamp andcutter mechanism during reciprocation of the carrier, spring means within said housing connected with said rock shafts and urging them in a common direction to maintain the cam elements inclined and in substantial alignment, and mechanism connected with said carrier and operated by the loom to reciprocate the carrier.

2. In a thread clamp and cutter mechanism for filling replenishing looms, a relatively stationary slide, a carrier mountedupon said slide for reciprocation, means to reciprocate said carrier, a thread clamp and cutter mechanism mounted upon the carrier for movement therewith, said mechanism comprising a filling stop blade, upper and lower cutter blades, a relatively fixed keeper lade and a filling holder blade in substantially parallel stacked relation, bolt means securing all of said blades to the carrier, said lower cutter blade and holder blade pivoting as a unit relative to the other blades of said mechanism, a follower element secured to said pivoting unit, cam means associated with said slide for actuating the follower element and pivoting said unit during reciprocation of the carrier, a resilient trough-shaped filling holder pivoted to said keeper blade and underlying the same and having sides disposed between the keeper blade and said lower cutter blade and holder blade, interfitting detent means on said holder, lower cutter blade and holder blade enabling said holder to pivot relative to the keeper blade during actuation or said mechanism to provide slack in the thread and to clamp the thread on opposite sides of the keeper blade when the thread is cut by the upper and lower cutter blades, and resilient means on the bolt means bearing against the holder blade for yieldably maintaining all of said blades in said stacked relation.

3. The invention according to claim 2, and wherein said filling holder has an outer covering of friction material to prevent slippage of the cut thread and the inner faces of the lower cutter and holder blades are recessed to receive the sides of the trough-shaped filling holder.

fl. The invention according to claim 2, and wherein said detent means comprises a projection on said filling holder and a plurality of spaced coacting small recesses 1n the inner sides of the lower cutter and bolder blades.

5. In a filling replenishing loom, a relatively stationary channel-shaped slide, bracket means supporting said slide upon the loom, a complementally-shaped carrier having interlocking longtiudinal sliding engagement upon said slide and forming therewith a longitudinal passage,

mechanism on the loom for imparting longitudinal reciprocation to the carrier and for limiting the movement of the carrier in opposite directions relative to the slide, a thread clamp and cutter unit mounted bodily upon the carrier to move therewith longitudinally of the slide and including a pivoted component having a transverse actuating pin, said carrier having a transverse opening receiving said pin and the pin projecting transversely through said opening into said longitudinal passage, and movable cam means disposed bodily within said longitudinal passage and enclosed therein and secured to said slide in the path of travel of the actuating pin to move the latter during reciprocation of the carriage to rock said pivoted component of the thread clamp and cutter unit, said cam means comprising a two-part longitudinally inclined cam having each part thereof pivoted to said slide and spring means common to said cam parts for biasing them in an inclined substantially aligned relation within said passage.

6. In a filling replenishing loom, a relatively stationary channel-shaped slide, bracket means supporting said slide upon the loom, a complementally shaped carrier having interlocking longitudinal sliding engagement upon said slide and forming therewith a longitudinal passage, mechanism on the loom for imparting longitudinal reciprocation to the carrier and for limiting the movement of the carrier in opposite directions relative to the slide, a thread clamp and cutter unit mounted bodily upon the carrier to move therewith longitudinally of the slide and including a pivoted component having a transverse actuating pin, said carrier having a transverse opening receiving said pin and the pin projecting transversely through said Opening into said longitudinal passage, and movable cam means disposed bodily Within said longitudinal passage and enclosed therein and secured to said slide in the path of travel of the actuating pin to move the latter during reciprocation of the carrier to rock said pivoted component of the thread clamp and cutter unit, said movable cam means comprising a pair of substantially aligned inclined cam elements within said passage each having a transverse rock shaft rigid therewith, a cylinder element adjustably rotatably mounted upon said slide and having a pair of bores receiving the rock shafts of the cam elements, adjustable bracket means carrying the cylinder element and secured to said slide and adapted 10 to be locked in selected angularly adjusted positions to efiect the desired adjustment of the cylinder element and said rock shafts relative to the slide, and spring means connected with the rock shafts of the cam elements and urging them in directions to maintain the cam elements inclined and substantially aligned.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,182,103 Wiget Dec. 5, 1939 2,752,955 Consoletti July 3, 1956 2,973,017 Bartlett Feb. 28, 1961 3,010,488 Banks Nov. 28, 1961 

1. A THREAD CUTTER AND CLAMP MECHANISM FOR FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A KNIFE CARRIER BRACKET WHICH IS RELATIVELY STATIONARY AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED DEPENDING LEGS, ONE OF SAID LEGS BEING OFFSET LATERALLY IN ONE DIRECTION FROM THE OTHER LEG, A SLIDE FIXEDLY SECURED TO ONE LEG OF SAID BRACKET AND SPACED FROM THE OFFSET LEG THEREOF, A HOUSING ARRANGED ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF SAID SLIDE AND HAVING A PAIR OF FLANGES PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF AND ENGAGING SAID SLIDE, SAID FLANGES BEING SLOTTED AND ONE OF SAID FLANGES DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SLIDE AND OFFSET BRACKET LEG, A CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION ON SAID HOUSING, SAID SLIDE HAVING A SIDE OPENING ROTATABLY RECEIVING SAID PROJECTION, SAID PROJECTION HAVING SPACED BORES FORMED THERETHROUGH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID HOUSING, BOLT MEANS SECURING SAID HOUSING FLANGES ADJUSTABLY TO SAID HOUSING AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOTS, WHEREBY SAID HOUSING AND PROJECTION MAY BE ROTATED RELATIVE TO SAID SLIDE, A CARRIER HAVING INTERLOCKING SLIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID 